Keep Calm & Carry On

Recently, whilst on a visit to my husband's parents I was lucky enough, by chance, to meet the people who now live in the house where I was brought up until the age of 9. (See photograph)
Can you imagine after all the intervening years to be allowed into my first home and wander around it? I was like the "kid who got the cream".

Sitting on the wall outside No.12

It felt very homely and I guess that my adrenaline and emotions were  running high. I spent quite some time talking to the current owners, who in turn were very interested in the social history of it all. I think that it must have taken more out of me than I had realised at the time.
The following day I went out to lunch with a friend and on the Saturday I had volunteered to help with the street collection in aid of the RNLI. The day after we met up with our youngest son and his prospective in-laws.
Once the visits and euphoria from Thursday had gone - there I was again - "pole-axed". My right foot was swollen as was my left ankle: I was in bed early for the next few evenings to rest before going to sleep for around ten hours! Once up for the day, I still felt tired and literally have not been able to do anything, which really frustrates me and sadly, once again I have been insufferable at times.
All the extra hours in bed and resting has made my right leg weak: on one occasion I have fallen in the middle of the night, as I got out of bed, unable to stop myself. The other downside, at times such as these, is that I cannot do any arm or finger exercises as they too do not conform in times of tiredness. It is rather a vicious circle. I know it is only temporary, but it is so frustrating.
After constantly working so very hard, it can be as though I have to start again or kick-start where I had left off and work that much harder to catch up. I used to be more perturbed about this type of situation in previous times. Getting wound up, annoyed or agitated about it I have learnt in a very hard way does not solve anything.                                                                               

Pictures of where I lived: 1956 and side by side in 2011.

I am writing another blog about where I grew up. Please contact me if you would like to read it.

Daily Exercises

W/C	Sun	Mon	Tues	Weds	Thurs	Fri	Sat
Fingers
Arm
Fingers
Fingers
Hands Behind
Perching Stool
Fingers
Pilates
Fingers
Arm
Wrist over Tray
Stick to Stretch
Duster on Table

A sheet which is full of ticks is a very satisfying sight!

The table is a constant reminder that I must keep up with my daily exercises.

Exercises can be tailor made according to levels of recovery.

Full Throttle, Crash and Burn

During the last week I have been totally wiped out again and I cannot offer any explanation for this.

I had a full day on my birthday, which was the previous week, but then did not do anything else for the remainder of that week, even to the point of not attending an important function with a group that my husband belongs to. There was however another family celebration - my husband's parents 70th wedding anniversary which resulted in another trip across The Pennines.

So, more or less for two weeks, I have listened to my body and the advice of family and friends and just rested.

A friend of mine told me that: "I go full throttle and then crash and burn" and I think that is a very fair comment.
Since my entry: "Get Up & Go ... Went Again" I have really tried to pace myself and be really sensible.

When I get like this I become very short-tempered and sadly my husband bears the burden of this. I can be very testing at these times and it is when I feel at my most vulnerable. The slightest thing can trigger a whole load of emotions but I have no revulsion of my state.

My husband is very patient with me and has learnt how to handle all of this, but this fills me with despondancy for him, as it is at these times when he needs the most help and support.
We come out of it all with more tolerence of each other and a greater understanding of my state of mind at these times.

This article appeared in the local newspapers in June. It was written with the intention of bringing attention to the consequences of a stroke and to endorse the work of The Stroke Association.

As a direct result, a stroke victim contacted the local Stroke Association Co-ordinator and asked if it would be appropriate for him to contact me. We have spoken a couple of times and below is what this person, who had a stroke two months prior to me, had to say:
"It was good to speak to you the other night, to make a first introduction and to swap common experiences, as I explained you are the first and only person I have spoken to, who has had a stroke........ and I must say that now l think that it was probably a mistake not doing so before now and that speaking to someone who has been through a similar experience, would probably have had some benefit, just to have spoken to someone who would fully understand"

Stroke victims do need the support of each other - to know what we experience is "common" to us. Services throughout the country seem to be very varied, but in Harrogate we have  fantastic support. I am pleased also that this person felt that he may benefit for having a chat, I certainly did. - Thank-you!

You can also read about our daily challenges:
 http://www.facebook.com/#!/TheStrokeAssociation

July 1st 2011 - Milestone

Today the Statistics page of my Blog shows that it has had 1,000 viewings, which is truly amazing.

I started it by accident to keep an account of what has happened to me and my family and the changes that we all have had to adjust to.

After a few chance conversations, I found that people were genuinely interested and now it is being read by people from Australia to Canada with several countries in-between!

At the award ceremony a couple of days ago, one nominee told me that she now has been inspired to write her own account of what has happened to her.
This, to me, was fantastic news, knowing that I may have enthused someone else to do the same.

To everyone who has read or is actively following my Blog: Thank- you.
I hope that you will find some reassurances if you have had a stroke and more understanding of how it can affect us if you are family or friends of someone you know has.